Guillermo del Toro is a frustrating, baffling director at times. But boy, when he gets it right… and this loving tribute to b-movies and monster pictures of the 1960s is right up there with his considerable best.

Even his most hardcore fans would admit it’s easy to spot when his heart isn’t in a film. Pacific Rim was his attempt at a blockbuster movie, but it was as hollow as a child’s toy and had about as much longevity. Crimson Peak was a partial return to form, but still lacked heart. Here though we are firmly back in Pan’s Labyrinth and Devil’s Backbone territory. It’s beautiful, structured, detailed and very moving. [Read more…]

If Guillermo Del Toro directs something, you know it’s going to be unique. Although with The Shape Of Water he seems to have been taking in a few inspirations, from the likes of ET and Amelie to the character of Abe Spien in Hellboy. It certainly looks like it could be something special, and early feviews from film festivals suggest the Pan’s Labyrinth and Pacific Rim director hasn’t lost his touch..

Here’s the synopsis: ‘From master story teller, Guillermo del Toro, comes THE SHAPE OF WATER – an other-worldly fairy tale, set against the backdrop of Cold War era America circa 1963. In the hidden high-security government laboratory where she works, lonely Elisa (Sally Hawkins) is trapped in a life of silence and isolation. Elisa’s life is changed forever when she and co-worker Zelda (Octavia Spencer) discover a secret classified experiment. Rounding out the cast are Michael Shannon, Richard Jenkins, Michael Stuhlbarg and Doug Jones.’

The movie is out in the US at the end of the year, with a February UK date set. Take a look at the new Red Band trailer below. [Read more…]

If Guillermo Del Toro directs something, you know it’s going to be unique. Although with The Shape Of Water he seems to have been taking in a few inspirations, from the likes of ET and Amelie to the character of Abe Spien in Hellboy. It certainly looks like it could be something special.

Here’s the synopsis: ‘From master story teller, Guillermo del Toro, comes THE SHAPE OF WATER – an other-worldly fairy tale, set against the backdrop of Cold War era America circa 1963. In the hidden high-security government laboratory where she works, lonely Elisa (Sally Hawkins) is trapped in a life of silence and isolation. Elisa’s life is changed forever when she and co-worker Zelda (Octavia Spencer) discover a secret classified experiment. Rounding out the cast are Michael Shannon, Richard Jenkins, Michael Stuhlbarg and Doug Jones.’

The movie should be in cinemas at the end of the year. Take a look at the trailer below. [Read more…]

A few weeks ago it was revealed that Guillermo Del Toro was working on a supernatural romance set during the Cold War, with Sally Hawkins, Richard Jenkins, Octavia Spencer and Michael Stuhlbarg set to star. Now another actor is joining the throng, with Variety reporting the Michael Shannon is in talks for the film.

There aren’t many story details, but it’s reported that it’s set in 1963 and is about, ‘A mute laboratory worker, to be played by Sally Hawkins, falls in love with an amphibious man who’s being held captive’. Shannon will be the villain of the story.

The movie is set to shoot later this year for a 2017 release. No official title has been revealed, but it may end up being called The Shape of Water.

Not much is known about Guillermo Del Toro’s next movie, but we do now know that it’s a Cold War romance, which has Sally Hawkins attached to star, with Octavia Spencer in talks to join her, according to Variety and THR. Shooting will start this summer.

Del Toro had been weighing up several options for his next film, but apparently this one was always top of the list. Story details are been kept secret, but it’s believed that it’s ‘a mysterious and magical journey set against the backdrop of Cold War-era America circa 1963 with an otherworldly love story at the center of it.’

Del Toro also wrote the script for the movie, so it’s little surprise it will mix the real with the fantastical. He’s also still working on a Pacific Rim sequel, but that’s taking longer to put together than originally planned.

For years James Cameron has been working on producing a remake of Fantastic Voyage, but it’s been trapped in development with the likes of Paul Greengrass, Shawn Levy and Louis Leterrier coming and going from the director’s chair (many others, including Darren Aronofsky, Timur Bekmambetov and Jonathan Mostow has flirted with it). Now it may finally be moving forward, with THR reporting that Guillermo Del Toro (Pacific Rim, Crimson Peak) is interested in directing.

David Goyer – who previously worked with Del Toro on Blade II – wrote the script, and it would also reunite the director with James Cameron after their aborted attempt to make a movie version of At The Mountains Of Madness.

The original 1966 Fantastic Voyage, followed a team of scientists who are miniaturised and injected into the body of a colleague, in order to try and save his life. The new version is envisioned as an event-sized tentpole for Fox, although it’s previously been suggested that the studio has had a few concerns about the budget (which is what caused At The Mountains Of Madness to come undone), but hopefully those problems have been ironed out.